The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1887-09-08

glorious achievements, beautiful exam
pies Of which are to be found In the
HompTic epics, the Illiad and Odyssey,
and Virgil's Anaeid. These exalted ac-
tions, which spring from the heroic viz
tues, have their place In an address OF
this kind; and especially the lives of
those are to be referred to whose exam
pies tend to stimulate the younger gen.
ersti0n to q high and persistent pur.
pose In life.
The genealogical tree of the Wise
family Is very large and made up of
many branches. Many of you may ex-
pect me to begin with the root Of this
majestic tree; to follow along the
main trunk, and to trace and
name each particular rami6catiOn.
This would prove to be long and nec-
essarily dry, 80 l want to surprise you
by not treating the subject in sech a
manner, but will leave this work for a
future occasion and perhaps publica-
ton. For brief time let US look at a
few Of the salient characteristics of the
representatives Of the Wise family.
They are men and women Of character,
Of genuine excellence, of high princi
pie, of sterling honesty of purpose,
commanding the spontaneous homage
Of their friends and neighbOrs. They
are industrious and frugal people; have
strong inclinatiOns, and exceptional
ability for the acquisition Of wealth,
aud are as rule to be found surround
ed with gOOdIy portion If this worlds
goods. With them character is also
properly one of the nOblest Of possess
siOns.
What father 10 there among the Wises,
who does not, or has not given to his
sons. in substance, the advice which the
immortal Robert Burns received from
his father.
"He bade me act manly part,
Though had ne'er fathering;
For without an honest, manly heart,
No one was worth regarding"
They make some conscience OF what
they do, putting their conscience into
their work, into their every action.
They are reVerential, having reverence
for things consecrsted by the homage
OF generations, for high objects, pure
thoughts and noble aims. They are
morally courageous, having the courage
to seek and speak the truth; the Co1r-
age to be just; the courage to be honest;
and the courage to do ones duty.
From the following history, we learn
that the Wise family was among the first
settlers In Washington county, Pa, and
also of Stark county, o., in later years.
We are to be guided by tradition man
lY, as but few data were recorded, which
are very meager. The name Of Wise is
Of German OrigiOn, and the family con-
sequently of TeutOnic extraction. We
are told that the original home of this
numerous family now, for the name can
be found In almost every quarter Of the
World, was In Hesse Dsrmstadt, one of
the Rheinish provinces.
We have Q tradition that In 1742 q
Mr.. Wise and his family emigrated to
tie American colonies, landing In Phil
adelphis.
They first settled In Maryland, near
where Frederick City ia now located.
All the information good or bad that
can be gathered concerning their resi-
denCe In Maryland, is that they owned
and run q distillery. Whether they
manufactured good whisky or not, ira.
ditiOn does not say. However, l wish
to say right here, that 1t Is a fact, and
to the eternal honor Of our ancestry,
that not one Of the old stock of the Wise
family was addicted to that crime of the
age-the sin Of intemperRnce.
About the close of the revolutionary
war, the records show that three broth
ere, Peter, Adam and Andrew Wise, took
up about 400 acres Of land In Washing
ton county, Pennsylvania.
A. Wise, the founder of the family,
died at the age Of ninety.two, In 1881 In
Washington county, Pa. Peter Wise,
one Of his descendants. came to Stark
county In 1907 and settled near Middle
branch. His twelve children all settled
in this neighbOrhOOd.
The history Of the late generations
are yet to be written, but II theyiprOve
as honorable as those of their ancestors
they will all be lives worthy spent.